Patricia Carpenter

Patricia Ann Carpenter, 90, of Daytona Beach Shores, died on Aug. 31, 2023. Patricia was born on May 7, 1933, to Irene (Moran) and Patrick Schofield in Scranton, Pa.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, James Ronald Schofield; daughter, Kathleen Ann Vavra; granddaughter, Ada Margaret Abels; her ex-husband, William Vavra; and husbands, Vincent Monticello and Ralph Carpenter.

At age 10, her family moved to Endicott, N.Y. She attended Saint Ambrose and graduated from Union-Endicott High School. Though her dream was to become a nurse, after her mother died suddenly when Pat was 17, she chose instead to care for her father and brother. She attended Broome Community College and then went to work for IBM. While raising her family, she worked in the Seton Catholic High School cafeteria, and later was coordinator of IBM's food service facility in Glendale, N.Y. She married Vince in 1970 and in 1978, they moved to Yulee, Fla., where they co-owned and ran Bow and Arrow campground and from there settled in Port Orange, Fla. After Vince's untimely death, she met Ralph. In her 50s, he taught her how to play tennis. When she lost Ralph, Pat moved to Oceans Two in Daytona Beach Shores and for many years remained quite involved in serving on the Oceans Two Board of Directors, member/chair of Parks and Recreation committee, and other community organizations. Pat worked as a bookkeeper and manager for research and marketing firms for 10 years. Her last and most meaningful career was as a counselor for Project WARM at the Stewart-Marchman residential treatment facility, serving pregnant women and mothers with addictions. She was also a volunteer for the Volusia County Corrections department taking A.A. meetings to residents.

Pat was widely traveled, journeying to San Diego, Calif.; Camp Lejeune, N.C., and twice to Okinawa, Japan where her daughter and family were stationed with the Navy. She traveled to Mississippi, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Arizona and Mexico. One highlight of her travels was a once in a lifetime Alaskan cruise with her son, granddaughter and friend, which included a helicopter ride to land on top of a glacier. Yet another dream adventure she experienced was exploring Ireland with her daughter.

Pat was an avid crossword puzzler, a formidable Rummy and Scrabble opponent, and loved to read. She made an amazing oyster stew every year at Christmas, and passed the recipe on to Bill. For many years, she created complex and beautiful cross stitch works, several that have become family heirlooms. She loved Luciano Pavarotti, Willie Nelson and Andrea Bocelli – and saw Willie perform numerous times. Pat was also thrilled to see Sinatra and Bocelli in concert. She cherished the memory of hearing her beloved cousin, Anita Schofield, perform with the Tri-City Opera.

She is survived by her daughter, Irene (Vavra) Abels, of Strafford, N.H.; her son, William "Bill" Vavra, of Daytona Beach, Fla.; her grandchildren, Cecil C. Abels III and Patricia "Katie" Abels, both of Strafford, N.H.; Brianna (and Ryan) Garrett and Rachel. She was blessed to have been a part of her great-grandson Weston Garrett's life for his first four years and although she did not get to meet her second great-grandson, Makoa Jackson Morris, of Strafford, N.H., in person, she was able to "meet" him via FaceTime and loved them both dearly; also her Schofield, Parrulli, Bovier and Hawk relatives and many dear friends.

Patricia's long life touched so many hearts; she was loved and respected for her compassion, wisdom, kindness, wit and candor, but most of all, her never ending love. She will be missed beyond measure as she is carried on in the hearts and lives of her treasured family and friends. Patricia's most memorable adage was "Family is everything." Her family asks that you honor Patricia's memory by seeing the potential in your own life, living it to the fullest, and cherishing your families and friends.